Trolling device



June 14,1960 J. E. SCOTT 2,9

' TROLLING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHN E. SCOTT CORBETT, MAHONEY 8. MILLER, ATTYS.

June 14, 1960 J. E. scoTT 2,940,207

TROLLING DEVICE Filed June 25, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El\ EI- w J j E Sr SI FIG. 4

INVENTOR. JOHN E. SCOTT BY CORBETT, MAHONEY 8. MILLER, ATTYS.

United States Patent TROLLING DEVICE John E. Scott, 721 E. Main St., Crestline, Ohio Filed June 25, 1957, Ser. No. 667,936

4 Claims. (Cl. 43-4313) My invention relates to a trolling device. It has to do, more particularly, with a trolling device which is adapted to be used in controlling the position of natural or artificial bait, used in trolling, relative to the bottom of the stream, lake, ocean, or other body of water on which a boat pulling the device is operating. The trolling device of this invention further provides means for maintaining it in a predetermined angular position relative to the stern of the boat pulling it so that a number of these devices may be trailed from the boat without interference with each other.

According to my invention, I provide a trolling device which, when attached to a line or rod and reel and deposited in the water and is pulled along by a line from the stern of the boat at a suitable trolling speed, automatically finds the bottom of the body of water and automatically sets its level of operation so that the bait or lure will always be a predetermined distance from the bottom. This permits the lure, spinner, or live bait, to clear the bottom, thus avoiding snags as well as to be at a level for most effective fishing. This is the normal operating position of the device and is determined by the momentum and pressure of water on the device as it is pulled along by the boat because the device simulates the operation of a hydrofoil. However, the device is further designed so that upon striking a rock or other object or obstruction on the bottom, it automatically is directed upwardly to clear the obstruction and then immediately thereafter levels oif to its original position relative to the bottom. Furthermore, the device is equipped with means which simulates the operation of a rudder for maintaining it in a predetermined angular relationship relative to the stern of the boat. Consequently, several of these devices may be trailed from the stern of the boat at different angular positions without interfering with each other.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention. In these drawmgs:

Figure 1 is a view partlyin side'elevation and partly in vertical section taken substantially along line 1--1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a forward end view of the device taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the action of the adjustable rudder arrangement of the device.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the action of the hydrofoil arrangement of the device.

With particular reference to the drawings, in Figures 1 to 3 I have illustrated the structure of my trolling device whereas in Figures 4 and 5 I have illustrated the action of the device.

In Figure 1, I have illustrated my device as consisting mainly of the horizontally disposed hydrofoil sections 10, which have associated therewith a level control trigget 11 depending from and associated with a fixed deice 2 pending stabilizing section 12, together with an upstanding adjustable rudder section 13 extending upwardly from the foil sections 10.

The device is preferably formed of relatively thin and lightweight sheet metal. The hydrofoil sections 10 and the depending stabilizing section 12 are formed from one piece of metal. This piece of metal is bent upwardly into substantially U-form to provide the upstanding wall 14 closely adjacent each other, as shown in Figure 2. Then the metal is bent horizontally in opposite directions to provide the oppositely extending horizontally disposed foil sections 10.

Intermediate their ends, the wall sections 14 are spaced apart to provide a chamber 15 in which the upper end of the trigger 11 is disposed along with a spring 16. The upper end of the trigger 11 is pivoted at 17, intermediate the length of the stabilizer section 12, and is adapted to swing in a slot 18 formed in the bottom edge of the chamber. The spring 16 is in the form of a wire which is wrapped around a transverse pin 19 in the chamber 15. The rear leg of this springbears against a metal eyelet 20 while its forward leg is wrapped around the trigger 11, as indicated at 21, a substantial distance below the pivot pin 17. This spring 16 normally tends to swing the trigger 11 forwardly against the forward edge of the slot 18, as shown in Figure 1. At the forward end of the stabilizer section 12 another metal eyelet 22 is provided. These eyelets 2i and 22, along with rivets 23 and 24, serve to secure the stabilizer walls 14 together at their converging ends. The lower end of the trigger 11 is curled into a circular loop 25 to provide for increased weight and a vertically disposed stabilizing portion.

As previously indicated, the adjustable rudder 13 is also provided. This rudder 13 is in the form of a vertically disposed thin metal section which is pivoted for horizontal swinging relative to the hydrofoil sections 10. The pivoting is provided by a pm of pivot lugs 26 dis posed at the rear end of the hydrofoil sections 10. Each of these lugs is provided with a horizontal part having an arcuate slots 27. The slots are concentric with each other at the point 35. The slots receive rivets 28 which are provided in the sections 10 adjacent their rear ends and on opposite sides of the joint 29 between the sections 10. The rudder 13 is also pivoted for slight vertical movement between the upstanding clips 26 by means of a transverse pivot pin 39 passing through the vertical portions of the clips. To normally hold the forward end of the rudder 13 downwardly, a spring 31 is provided which is in the form of a Wire wrapped around the pivot 30 and having its lower and rear end engaging the .rear edge of one of the lugs 26. The forward and upper end of the spring 31 is turned transversely into an opening 32 in the member 13 which is spaced forwardly and upwardly of the pivot pin 30.

Thus, the spring 31 tends to swing the rudder 13 downwardly and normally keeps it positioned in the joint 29 between the hydrofoil sections 10. The forward and lower edge of the rudder 13 is provided with a depending locating lug 33. This lug will also extend down into the joint 29 when the rudder 13 is centrally positioned, as shown in Figure 3. At the forward. edge of each of the hydrofoil sections 10, a pluralityof rudder setting openings 34 are provided. These rudder setting openings are arranged in anarc concentric with the point 35 about which the rudder 13 will pivot in a horizontal direction. By means of these openings 34 and the depending locating lug 33, the rudder 13 may be set at any selected angle, as illustrated by the broken lines in Figure 3. It is merely necessary to lift the forward end of the rudder 13 against the action of the spring 31 to withdraw the lug 33 upwardly from the joint 29 or any of the openings 34, and then set the lug in any other openj 7 having many desirable features.

are, obtained from. the fact that the device is designed' ing'34 (3r thej jointi29 j Th sprin 31 will maintain the rudder 13 downwardlyinthe set position. Q i V In the use of this device; the device will be v pnlled lqngbr a ollingl inefi r as shown in re 5, i h.

. wilrvheiatt ehedto; thetdevicee r ugh h r ar y le j :2-2Jf tr'ailingfl'eader 37forthe fbait willflbe attached; to the; device bymeans of; the rear. eyelet '20.,5..'As,the

boatpulls; the device along; the trigger 1 1,will swing, i

rearw rdlyinthe lo 10 n. almostlvertical po tion...

operat ng. p sitionflof, the r g er and. h y oi l 1 [principles of this invention have been explained and have been illustrated and described what is now considered to represent the best embodiment. However, 'it is to be understood that, withinj the scope ofthe appended'claims',

the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described: 4 i

; Having thus described my -invention, whatfI claim is: '1. A trolling device comprising a horizontal hydrofoil having. a depending, vertical, stabilizer and. an associated will, therefore, en s tio ed' o z nt l y i the w te -I "The member liwilli rag longithel o om nd w k ep If an obstruction is he. trollihgdevi e at aip de ermin 'l l v n d i o'n'the' length of the trigger 1'1.- enq nniteredv y thetri a r 11, a at 0 mFigu t r 61' 11, will swing farther rearwardly in the slot 18 and. this will direct th hydrtofoilsl lfiiat an upward angle: 7 i

fconscqtlcntly'the trolling device willjrise and will clear he obs ruction. Asfsoonas. the obstruction is cleared,

depending elongated. trigger, arm adapted. to. slide along the bottom of abody of water'in which the device is submerged and to, hold'the hydrofoilat a predetermined 'level and position during trolling by pulling the device along from a boat,'a vertically disposed rudder'upstanding from the hydrofoil and adjustable horizontally relative thereto to determine the angular positioned-the device relative to the boat pulling the device, said trigger s u g, orw y by ani i ev ontra t d et he.

the i ger I11will move forwardly slightly in the slot 1,8, to the normal intermediateposition, tasshown atv l3 7 i predetermined levelsineethe hydrofoils 1t willjbe horizontally. disposed...

The, adjustable, rudderllpwill'be set to determine the position, of; the trolling device relative to the stern of the boat,,as' indicated in: Figure 4. 'Ifonly oneofmy trollingdeyicles is being pulled along by theboat, the rudder 13 will; be, permitted to occupy the central or straightforward position shown in Figure 3,v with the locating- Iug33. thereof extending down into the joint 29; Howrm e r d o the ta iz r ndtbeing normally and the stabilizer, said stabilizer comprising spaced. diein FiguretS, Thettrollingudevice will now operate at its, f'pen ing W lls b tween which thetrigger is: pivoted hayin'g stops. for limiting the' forward and rearward positions of the' 'trigger, said'hydrofoil having; oppositely projecting horizontal sections, on opposite sides' of the vertically disposed depending stabilizer, 'said upstanding rudder'being pivoted on a vertical pivot in theplan'e of ever, several of my trolling devices are to be pulled 7 along by the boat, each one will have theiuddcr' 13 set in a Vdifierent angular position. The rudder 13 of each deviceicanbeset in the proper angular position by insert- 1 3 the 111g 33 in theproper opening 34. Also it canibe set invits, outermost positions by dropping the lug 33 .o ver,

either of the outer. edges of the hydrofoil. sections, each slot 27 limiting this outermost position, With the'rudder 13 set at ajproper angle; the trolling device NVill operate in, a predetermined angular position: at the stern: of the.

boat, as indicated. by. thevarious rudder settings in Figure 4. Thus, a number ofdevices, can be trailed from the, stern of a, boat without interfering with each other.

7 It will. be apparent from the above description that It a have. provided a simple and'inexpensive trolling device Important advantages devicejis designed to 'be very s-table2insofar as roll is concerned, due, to the. depending stabilizer and the trigger.

' The device is so arranged that it wilLclear obstructions on. the bottom, instead of snagging thereon,j by anauto maticpupward movement and willvthenr automatically level oifto its original position. Other important advantages are obtained by the adjustable rudder, since it provides. for the use of a plurality of the trolling devices at thefsternpf a. boat and all of the different, devices a 1 a will drift at a predetermined angular position relative to thefstern sothatthey will 'not interfere or snag with each other; Also, the stabilizing arrangement provides for proper functioning of the rudder to hold the de'ces, in

predetermined angular positions.

any of said sockets,

the stabilizer between the hydrofoil sections and swingable over the upper surface thereojf a nd' retaining means. for holding said rudder in a selected position, said. retainingmeans comprising a depending lugon the rudder which cooperates with locating sockets across the hydrofoils.

V 2.,A,trolli ng device according to claim 11 inwhich the rudder is also pivoted to the hydrofoilby a horizontal transverse pivot for movement in averticalplane relative to the hydrofoil, and a spring connectedibetween the rudder andrthe hydrofoil, tending tov swing the. rudder downwardly to cause 'the, retaining lug-to extend into 3. A trolling device according to-claim'2 in, whichthe said sockets comprise a central socket. formed by a joint rudder;

4. A trolling device accordingto. claim 2 in which the {stabilizer is provided with means for connecting lines, to

the forward and rearward ends thereof.

References Cited in. the file of this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 ,320,804 Squarebriggs Nov. 4, 19.19

' 1,361,602 I Marks Dec. 7, 1920 1,673,701 Lindstrom -Q. .Jurie 12, 1928 2,467,971 Frair Apr. 19,, 1949 7 2,472,639 Wickens Q. June 7,1949

7 2,542,347 Muller Feb. 20, 1951 2,648,929 Dunn Aug. 18, 1953 2,787,077 Keiter Apr, 2, 1957 2,823,635

Hagemann Feb. 18, 1958 

